Licensure

This information is provided in good faith to applicants as of August 18, 2020.

The Counseling@Northwestern program leads to a Master of Arts in Counseling. The designed outcome is to lead to eligibility to become a Licensed Professional Counselor within Illinois. States typically have additional post license requirements to become eligible for an independent practice license, including additional hours under supervision and testing. In Illinois the independent practice license is Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC); other states may have a different license name.

The Counseling@Northwestern program is accredited by The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Some states may require a different specialized accreditor or may have additional requirements for licensure.

The table below provides a state by state breakdown of comparable licenses, including a determination of eligibility for licensure. This information provided is designed as a baseline determination of whether the program meets individual state specific requirements. Other licenses may be more applicable and/or require additional standards. Licensure requirements and appropriate pathways are subject to change and may differ based on individual student backgrounds, including coursework taken outside the scope of the program. Students should do their own due diligence and determine the appropriate pathway and license type for themselves.

Alabama

What is Issued: License

Name of What’s Issued:

  1. Associate Licensed Counselor (ALC) – while obtaining post-grad field experience
  2. Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) – once post-grad field experience has been completed

Programmatic Accreditation Requirements: A Master’s degree from a Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) or Commission on Rehabilitation and Education (CORE) accredited program, or the content equivalent of CACREP or CORE.

Examinations: Written exam approved by the board

Curriculum Requirements: 48 graduate semester hours or 72 quarter hours from a regionally accredited university in each of the following areas:

  1. Counseling Theory
  2. Human Growth and Development
  3. Social and Multicultural Foundations
  4. The Helping Relationship
  5. Group Dynamics, Processing and Counseling
  6. Lifestyle and Career Development
  7. Appraisal of Individuals
  8. Research and Evaluation
  9. Professional Orientation
  10. Practicum
  11. Internship

Field Experience Requirements: The internship must be a minimum of six hundred (600) clock hours, to include: a minimum of two hundred and forty (240) hours of direct service work with clients appropriate to the program emphasis area; a minimum of two and one-half (2 ½) hours per week of supervision, to include at least one (1) hour per week of individual supervision.

State Regulation: Alabama – Laws and Rules

State Board: Alabama – Board of Examiners in Counseling

Federal Disclosure: Meets states requirements

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Alaska

What is Issued: License

Name of What’s Issued: Professional Counselor License

Programmatic Accreditation Requirements: Regional or national accreditation

Examinations: National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification (NCE) or the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE)

Curriculum Requirements: 60 graduate semester hours. Coursework in at least 8 of the following subject areas:

  1. The Helping Relationship, including theory and practice
  2. Human Growth and Development
  3. Lifestyle and Career Development
  4. Group Dynamics, Processes, Counseling, and Consulting
  5. Assessment, Appraisal, and Testing of Individuals
  6. Social and Cultural Foundation, including Multicultural Issues
  7. Principles of Etiology, Diagnosis, Treatment Planning, and Prevention of Mental and Emotional Disorders and Dysfunctional behavior
  8. Marriage and Family Counseling Therapy
  9. Research and Evaluation
  10. Professional Counseling Orientation; and Ethics (three graduate level credits in ethics required)

Field Experience Requirements: Practicum hours not specified.

State Regulation: Alaska – Statutes and Regulations

State Board: Alaska – Board of Professional Counselors

Federal Disclosure: Meets states requirements

Additional Important Information: An initial license is not required to begin accruing postgraduate supervision hours.

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Arizona

What is Issued: License

Name of What’s Issued:

  1. Licensed Associate Counselor – while obtaining post-grad field experience
  2. Licensed Professional Counselor – once post-grad field experience has been completed

Programmatic Accreditation Requirements: Regional or national accreditation that meets one of the following:

  1. Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
  2. Curriculum approved by the board
  3. Curriculum meeting requirements described by the board

Examinations: National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification (NCE) or the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE)

Curriculum Requirements: At least 60 semester credit hours or 90 quarter credit hours in a CACREP or CORE accredited program, or a program with 24 semester hours or 32 quarter hours in the following eight core content areas:

  1. Professional Orientation and Ethical Practice
  2. Social and Cultural Diversity
  3. Human Growth and Development
  4. Career Development
  5. Helping Relationships
  6. Group Work
  7. Assessment
  8. Research and Program Evaluation

Field Experience Requirements: 700 hours of supervised clinical hours, including 240 hours of direct client contact.

State Regulation: Arizona – Rules and Laws

State Board: Arizona – Board of Behavioral Health Examiners

Federal Disclosure: Meets states requirements

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Arkansas

What is Issued: License

Name of What’s Issued:

  1. Licensed Associate Counselor – while obtaining post-grad field experience
  2. Licensed Professional Counselor – once post-grad field experience has been completed

Programmatic Accreditation Requirements: A Master’s degree from a Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) or Commission on Rehabilitation and Education (CORE) accredited program, or the content equivalent of CACREP or CORE.

Examinations:

  1. National Counselor Examination (NCE) and/or National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE) (via the National Board of Certified Counselors)
  2. The Arkansas Board of Examiners in Counseling Jurisprudence Exam

Curriculum Requirements:

  1. Professional Identity
  2. Social and Cultural Diversity
  3. Human Growth and Development
  4. Career Development
  5. Helping Relations
  6. Group Work
  7. Assessment
  8. Research and Program Evaluation
  9. Practicum and/or Internship (9 credits)
  10. Psychopathology, including Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) and International Classification of Diseases (ICD) training
  11. Family and Relationship
  12. Psychopharmacology

Field Experience Requirements: Practicum hours not specified.

State Regulation: Arkansas – Rules and Regulations

State Board: Arkansas – Board of Examiners in Counseling & MFT

Federal Disclosure: Meets states requirements

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California

What is Issued: License

Name of What’s Issued:

  1. Associate Professional Clinical Counselor (APCC) – while obtaining post-grad field experience
  2. Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) – once post-grad field experience has been completed

Programmatic Accreditation Requirements: Regional accreditation

Examinations:

  1. California Law and Ethics Exam
  2. National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE)

Curriculum Requirements: At least 60 graduate semester units or 90 graduate quarter units of instruction in the following core content areas:

  1. Counseling and Psychotherapeutic Theories and Techniques
  2. Human Growth and Development Across the Lifespan
  3. Career Development Theories and Techniques
  4. Group Counseling Theories and Techniques
  5. Assessment, Appraisal, and Testing of Individuals
  6. Multicultural Counseling Theories and Techniques
  7. Principles of the Diagnostic Process
  8. Research and Evaluation
  9. Professional Orientation, Ethics and Law in Counseling
  10. Psychopharmacology
  11. Addictions Counseling
  12. Crisis or Trauma Counseling
  13. Advanced Counseling and Psychotherapeutic Theories and Techniques

Additional coursework within these 13 content areas should include:

  1. Suicide Risk Assessment and Intervention
  2. Human Sexuality
  3. Spousal/Partner Abuse Assessment, Detection, and Intervention
  4. Child Abuse Assessment and Reporting in California
  5. Aging, Long Term Care and Elder/Dependent Adult Abuse
  6. Mental Health Recovery Oriented Care and Methods of Service Delivery
  7. California Cultures and the Social and Psychological Implications of Socioeconomic Position

Applicants who attend an out of state institution must complete a 3 semester or 4.5 quarter unit California Law & Ethics course is required prior to issuance of registration

Field Experience Requirements:

  1. 6 semester/9 quarter units of practicum, within degree program
  2. 280 hours of face-to-face counseling

State Regulation: California – Statutes and Regulations

State Board: California – Board of Behavioral Sciences

Federal Disclosure: Meets state requirements

Federal Disclosure Reason: The program meets state requirements with additional coursework. Northwestern works closely with students to help them meet state specific requirements for initial licensure

Additional Important Information: California – Associate Professional Clinical Counselor Registration – Out of State Applicant

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Colorado

What is Issued: License

Name of What’s Issued:

  1. Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate – while obtaining post-grad field experience
  2. Licensed Professional Counselor – once post-grad field experience has been completed

Programmatic Accreditation Requirements: Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP) or equivalent

Examinations:

  1. State Jurisprudence Examination
  2. Counselor Certification Examination administered by the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC)

Curriculum Requirements: 60 graduate semester hours(no more than 6 semester credits are completed post-degree for purposes of licensure)

  1. Human Growth and Development.
  2. Social and Cultural Foundations
  3. Helping Relationships
  4. Groups
  5. Lifestyles and Career Development
  6. Appraisal
  7. Research and Evaluation
  8. Professional Orientation

Field Experience Requirements: 700 hours of supervised professional practice

State Regulation: Colorado – Laws, Rules, & Policies

State Board: Colorado – State Board of Licensed Professional Counselor Examiners 

Federal Disclosure: Meets states requirements

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Connecticut

What is Issued: License

Name of What’s Issued: Licensed Professional Counselor

Programmatic Accreditation Requirements: Regional accreditation

Examinations: National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification (NCE) or the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE)

Curriculum Requirements: 60 graduate semester hours of coursework in each of the following areas:

  1. Human Growth and Development
  2. Social and Cultural Foundations
  3. Counseling Theories and Techniques or Helping Relationships
  4. Group Dynamics
  5. Processing and Counseling
  6. Career and Lifestyle Development
  7. Appraisals or Tests and Measurements for Individuals and Groups
  8. Research and Evaluation
  9. Professional Orientation to Counseling

Field Experience Requirements: Practicum hours not specified.

State Regulation: Connecticut – Statutes

State Board: Connecticut – Department of Public Health

Federal Disclosure: Meets states requirements

Additional Important Information: An initial license is not required to begin accruing postgraduate supervision hours.

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Delaware

What is Issued: License

Name of What’s Issued:

  1. Licensed Associate Counselor of Mental Health (LACMH) – while obtaining post-grad field experience
  2. Licensed Professional Counselor of Mental Health (LPCMH) – once post-grad field experience has been completed

Programmatic Accreditation Requirements: Accredited program

Examinations: National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification (NCE)

Curriculum Requirements:

  1. Professional Counseling Orientation and Ethical Practice
  2. Social and Cultural Diversity
  3. Human Growth and Development
  4. Career Development
  5. Counseling and Helping Relationships
  6. Group Counseling and Group Work
  7. Assessment and Testing
  8. Research and Program Evaluation

Field Experience Requirements: Practicum hours not specified.

State Regulation: Delaware – Regulations

State Board: Delaware – Board of Mental Health and Chemical Dependency Professionals

Federal Disclosure: Meets states requirements

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District of Columbia

What is Issued: License

Name of What’s Issued:

  1. Licensed Graduate Professional Counselor (LGPC) – while obtaining post-grad field experience
  2. Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) – once post-grad field experience has been completed

Programmatic Accreditation Requirements: Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP) or equivalent

Examinations: National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification (NCE)

Curriculum Requirements: 48 semester hours in the following areas:

  1. Counseling Theory and Practice
  2. Human Growth and Development
  3. Lifestyle and Career Development
  4. Group Counseling
  5. Appraisal, Assessment, and Testing on Individuals
  6. Principles of Etiology, Diagnosis, Treatment Planning, and Prevention of Mental and Emotional Disorders and Dysfunctional Behavior
  7. Social and Cultural Foundations including Multicultural Counseling
  8. Marriage and Family Counseling
  9. Research and Program Evaluation
  10. Professional Orientation and Ethics
  11. Counseling Practicum or Internship

Field Experience Requirements: “An applicant for a license shall furnish proof satisfactory to the Board that he or she has completed, in a university-approved counseling setting, a one hundred (100) hour face-to-face supervised practicum followed by a six hundred (600) hour face-to-face supervised internship. At least 40 hours of the 100 hours of supervised practicum shall be in the form of direct service to clients. At least 240 hours of the 600 hours of supervised internship shall be in direct service to clients.”

State Regulation: District of Columbia – Municipal Regulations (Graduate) 

State Board: District of Columbia – Board of Professional Counseling 

Federal Disclosure: Meets states requirements

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Florida

What is Issued: License

Name of What’s Issued:

  1. Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern – while obtaining post-grad field experience
  2. Licensed Mental Health Counselor – once post-grad field experience has been completed

Programmatic Accreditation Requirements: Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP) or equivalent

Examinations: National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE)

Curriculum Requirements: At least 60 semester hours or 80 quarter hours in the following 12 content areas:

  1. Counseling Theories and Practice
  2. Human Growth and Development
  3. Diagnosis and Treatment of Psychopathology
  4. Human Sexuality
  5. Group Theories and Practice
  6. Individual Evaluation and Assessment
  7. Career and Lifestyle Assessment
  8. Research and Program Evaluation
  9. Social and Cultural Foundations
  10. Counseling in Community Settings
  11. Substance Abuse
  12. Legal, Ethical, and Professional Standards Issues. Courses in research, thesis or dissertation work, practicums, internships, or fieldwork may not be applied toward this requirement.
  13. Applicants are also required to complete an 8-hour Florida laws and rules course, a 3-hour HIV/AIDS course, and 2-hour domestic violence course from a Board-approved provider.

Field Experience Requirements: The equivalent of at least 1,000 hours of university-sponsored supervised clinical practicum, internship, or field experience as required in the standards for CACREP accredited mental health counseling programs.

State Regulation: Florida – Requirements, Statutes, Admin. Code

State Board: Florida – Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling

Federal Disclosure: Meets State Requirements

Additional Important Information: Applicants are also required to complete

  1. An 8-hour Florida laws and rules course
  2. 3-hour HIV/AIDS course
  3. 2-hour domestic violence course from a Board-approved provider

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Georgia

What is Issued: License

Name of What’s Issued:

  1. Associate Professional Counselor – while obtaining post-grad field experience
  2. Licensed Professional Counselor – once post grad field experience has been completed

Programmatic Accreditation Requirements: Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP) or regionally accredited program recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)

Examinations: Competency examination for licensure prescribed by the Board

Curriculum Requirements: All 9 content areas of the following course work are required:

  1. Human Growth and Development
  2. Multicultural Counseling or Diversity Training
  3. Counseling Techniques or Skills, or Advanced Psychotherapy/Intervention Theory
  4. Group Dynamics and Group Counseling/Psychotherapy
  5. Lifestyle and Career Development
  6. Appraisal/Assessment of Individuals
  7. Research Methods and Evaluation
  8. Professional Orientation and Ethics
  9. Psychopathology

Field Experience Requirements: 600 practicum or internship hours.

State Regulation: Georgia – Rules and Regulations

State Board: Georgia – Board of Prof. Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage & Family Therapists

Federal Disclosure: Meets states requirements

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Hawaii

What is Issued: License

Name of What’s Issued: Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC)

Programmatic Accreditation Requirements: Accredited educational institution

Examinations: National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification (NCE)

Curriculum Requirements: 48 semester hours or 72 quarter hours in the following course areas:

  1. Human Growth and Development
  2. Social and Cultural Foundations
  3. Counseling Theories and Applications
  4. Group Theory and Practice
  5. Career and Lifestyle Development
  6. Appraisal of Human Behavior
  7. Tests and Measurements
  8. Research and Program Evaluation
  9. Professional Orientation and Ethics

Field Experience Requirements: At least two academic terms of supervised mental health practicum intern experience for graduate credit of at least six semester hours or ten quarter hours in a mental health counseling setting with 300 hours of supervised client contact.

State Regulation: Hawaii – Unofficial Revised Statutes

State Board: Hawaii – Dept. of Commerce and Consumer Affairs – Professional and Vocational Licensing

Federal Disclosure: Meets states requirements

Additional Important Information: An initial license is not required to begin accruing postgraduate supervision hours. If an applicant needs to use a title to obtain post-graduate hours, they should use “Mental Health Counselor Intern”.

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Idaho

What is Issued: License

Name of What’s Issued:

  1. Registered Counselor Intern – while obtaining post-grad field experience
  2. Licensed Professional Counselor – once post grad field experience has been completed

Programmatic Accreditation Requirements: Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP) or regionally accredited program

Examinations: National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification (NCE)

Curriculum Requirements: 60 graduate semester hours or 90 graduate quarter hours in the following content areas:

  1. Human Growth and Development
  2. Social and Cultural Foundations
  3. The Helping Relationship
  4. Groups
  5. Lifestyle and Career Development
  6. Appraisal of the Individual
  7. Research and Evaluation
  8. Professional Orientation

Field Experience Requirements: 6 semester hours in advanced counseling practicum.

State Regulation: Idaho – State Licensure Rules

State Board: Idaho – Board Of Professional Counselor And Marriage And Family Therapists

Federal Disclosure: Meets states requirements

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Illinois

What is Issued: License

Name of What’s Issued:

  1. Licensed Professional Counselor
  2. Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor

Programmatic Accreditation Requirements: Regionally accredited

Examinations: National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification (NCE)

Curriculum Requirements: Minimum of 48 semester hours or 72 quarter hours in the following content areas:

  1. Human Growth and Development
  2. Counseling Theory
  3. Counseling Techniques
  4. Group Dynamics, Processing and Counseling
  5. Appraisal of Individuals
  6. Research and Evaluation
  7. Professional, Legal and Ethical Responsibilities Relating to Professional Counseling, Including Illinois Law
  8. Social and Cultural Foundations
  9. Lifestyle and Career Development
  10. Practicum/Internship
  11. Psychopathology and Maladaptive Behavior
  12. Substance Abuse
  13. Family Dynamics

Field Experience Requirements: Practicum hours not specified.

State Regulation: Illinois – Administrative Code

State Board: Illinois – Department of Financial and Professional Regulation

Federal Disclosure: Meets states requirements

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Indiana

What is Issued: License

Name of What’s Issued:

  1. Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associate – while obtaining post-grad field experience
  2. Licensed Mental Health Counselor – once post-grad field experience has been completed

Programmatic Accreditation Requirements: Regional accreditation

Examinations: Board provided examination

Curriculum Requirements: Complete sixty (60) semester hours of graduate coursework in counseling that must include either a Master’s degree that required not less than forty-eight (48) semester hours or a doctor’s degree in counseling. The graduate coursework must include the following content areas:

  1. Human Growth and Development.
  2. Social and Cultural Foundations of Counseling.
  3. Helping Relationship, Including Counseling Theory and Practice.
  4. Group Dynamics, Processes, Counseling, and Consultation.
  5. Lifestyle and Career Development.
  6. Assessment and Appraisal of Individuals.
  7. Research and Program Evaluation.
  8. Professional Orientation and Ethics.
  9. Foundations of Mental Health Counseling.
  10. Contextual Dimensions of Mental Health Counseling.
  11. Knowledge and Skills for the Practice of Mental Health Counseling and Psychotherapy.
  12. Clinical Instruction.

Field Experience Requirements: “Not less than one (1) supervised clinical practicum, internship, or field experience in a counseling setting, which must include a minimum of one practicum of 100 hours, one internship of 600 hours and one advanced internship of 300 hours with at least 100 hours of face to face supervision.”

State Regulation: Indiana – Licensing Board Statute and Rules

State Board: Indiana – Behavioral Health And Human Services Licensing Board

Federal Disclosure: Meets State Requirements

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Iowa

What is Issued: License

Name of What’s Issued:

  1. Temporary License – while obtaining post-grad field experience
  2. Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) – once post-grad field experience has been obtained

Programmatic Accreditation Requirements: Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP) or equivalent

Examinations: National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification (NCE) or the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE)

Curriculum Requirements: At least 60 semester hours of graduate level coursework:

  1. Professional Orientation and Ethical Practice
  2. Social and Cultural Diversity
  3. Human Growth and Development
  4. Career Development
  5. Helping Relationship
  6. Group Work
  7. Assessment
  8. Research and Program Evaluation
  9. Diagnosis and Treatment Planning
  10. Psychopathology
  11. Practicum
  12. Internship

Field Experience Requirements: 100 hour practicum with at least 40 hours of direct service with actual clients.
600 hour Internship with at least a minimum of 240 hours of direct service with clients.

State Regulation: Iowa – Administrative Rules

State Board: Iowa – Board of Behavioral Science

Federal Disclosure: Meets states requirements

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Kansas

What is Issued: License

Name of What’s Issued:

  1. Licensed Professional Counselor by Temporary License – while obtaining post-grad field experience
  2. Licensed Professional Counselor – once post-grad field experience has been completed

Programmatic Accreditation Requirements: Regional accreditation equal to standards equivalent to those met by Kansas colleges and universities

Examinations: National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification (NCE)

Curriculum Requirements: 60 semester hours of graduate level work with 45 graduate semester hours in the following areas:

  1. Counseling Theory and Practice
  2. The Helping Relationship
  3. Group Dynamics, Processing and Counseling
  4. Human Growth and Development
  5. Life-style and Career Development
  6. Appraisal of Individuals
  7. Social and Cultural Foundations
  8. Research and Evaluation
  9. Professional Orientation
  10. Supervised Practicum and Internship

Field Experience Requirements: Graduate level supervised clinical practicum of supervised professional experience including psychotherapy and assessment with individuals, couples, families or groups, integrating diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders with use of the American Psychiatric Association’s (APA) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM), with not less than 350 hours of direct client contact.

State Regulation: Kansas – Statutes and Regulations

State Board: Kansas – Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board 

Federal Disclosure: Meets State Requirements

Additional Important Information: After applying for the Professional Counselor License to begin post graduate hours, the board will determine if an applicant is eligible for temporary license. Applicants obtaining post-graduate hours may only use the word “licensed” when followed with “by temporary license”.

There are other licensure options available to applicants. Contact the state board for additional information.

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Kentucky

What is Issued: License

Name of What’s Issued:

  1. Licensed Professional Counselor Associate (LPCA) – while obtaining post-grad field experience
  2. Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) – once post-grad field experience has been completed

Programmatic Accreditation Requirements: Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP)

Examinations: National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification (NCE) or the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE)

Curriculum Requirements: 60 graduate semester hours or 90 graduate quarter hours in the following content areas:

  1. The Helping Relationship
  2. Human Growth and Development
  3. Lifestyle and Career Development
  4. Group Dynamics
  5. Assessment, Appraisal, and Testing of Individuals
  6. Social and Cultural Foundations
  7. Principles of Etiology, Diagnosis, Treatment Planning, and Prevention of Mental and Emotional Disorders
  8. Research and Evaluation
  9. Professional Orientation

Field Experience Requirements:
2 semester courses of practicum or internship experience of at least 600 hours with at least 240 hours of direct service.

State Regulation: Kentucky – Administrative Regulations

State Board: Kentucky – Board of Professional Counselors

Federal Disclosure: Meets states requirements

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Louisiana

What is Issued: License

Name of What’s Issued:

  1. Provisional Licensed Professional Counselor (PLPC) – while obtaining post-grad field experience
  2. Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) – once post-grad field experience has been completed

Programmatic Accreditation Requirements: Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP) or equivalent

Examinations: National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification (NCE) or the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE)

Curriculum Requirements: At least 60 graduate credit hours in 8 required areas:

  1. Counseling/Psychotherapy Theories of Personality
  2. Human Growth and Development
  3. Abnormal Behavior
  4. Techniques of Counseling/Psychotherapy
  5. Group Dynamics, Processes, and Counseling/Psychotherapy
  6. Lifestyle and Career Development
  7. Appraisal of Individuals
  8. Ethics and Professional Orientation

Field Experience Requirements: 100 hour practicum with 40 hours of direct counseling and a 600 hour internship with 240 hours of direct counseling.

State Regulation: Louisiana – Laws & Rules

State Board: Louisiana – Licensed Professional Counselors Board of Examiners

Federal Disclosure: Meets states requirements

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Maine

What is Issued: License

Name of What’s Issued:

  1. Conditional License – while obtaining post-grad field experience
  2. Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) – once post-grad field experience has been completed

Programmatic Accreditation Requirements: Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP) or equivalent

Examinations: National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification (NCE)

Curriculum Requirements: At least 48 semester hours in the following areas:

  1. Human Growth and Development
  2. Social and Cultural Foundations
  3. Helping Relationships
  4. Groups
  5. Lifestyle and Career Development
  6. Measurement
  7. Research and Evaluation
  8. Professional Orientation
  9. Practicum
  10. Internship

Field Experience Requirements:

  1. Practicum. A course of instruction that provides practical experience in counseling for the purpose of developing individual and group counseling skills. These studies include some counseling activities that a regularly employed licensed professional counselor would be expected to perform.
  2. Internship. A supervised counseling experience of at least 600 clock hours. The internship provides an opportunity for the student to perform all the activities that a regularly employed licensed professional counselor would be expected to perform.

State Regulation: Maine – Laws and Rules 

State Board: Maine – Board of Counseling Professionals Licensure 

Federal Disclosure: Meets State Requirements

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Maryland

What is Issued: License

Name of What’s Issued:

  1. Licensed Graduate Professional Counselor (LGPC) – while obtaining post-grad field experience
  2. Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) – once post-grad field experience has been completed

Programmatic Accreditation Requirements: Accredited College or University

Examinations: National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification (NCE)

Curriculum Requirements: A Master’s degree with a minimum of 60 graduate semester credit hours in the following areas:

  1. Human Growth and Personality Development
  2. Social and Cultural Foundations of Counseling
  3. Counseling Theory
  4. Counseling Techniques
  5. Group Dynamics, Processing, and Counseling
  6. Lifestyle and Career Development
  7. Appraisal
  8. Research and Evaluation
  9. Professional, Legal, and Ethical Responsibilities
  10. Marriage and Family Therapy
  11. Alcohol and Drug Counseling
  12. Diagnosis and Psychopathology
  13. Psychotherapy and Treatment of Mental and Emotional Disorders

Field Experience Requirements: A supervised clinical internship, externship, field experience, or practicum placement; and direct client contact in counseling experience with a minimum of 125 hours face-to-face client counseling

State Regulation: Maryland – Laws and Regulations

State Board: Maryland – Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists

Federal Disclosure: Meets states requirements

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Massachusetts

What is Issued: License

Name of What’s Issued: Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC)

Programmatic Accreditation Requirements: Regional accreditation

Examinations: National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE)

Curriculum Requirements: At least 60 semester credit hours or 80 quarter credit hours in the following areas:

  1. Counseling Theory
  2. Human Growth and Development
  3. Psychopathology
  4. Social and Cultural Foundations
  5. Clinical Skills
  6. Group Work
  7. Special Treatment Issues
  8. Appraisal
  9. Research and Evaluation
  10. Professional Orientation
  11. Elective Areas

Field Experience Requirements:

  1. A distinctly defined, pre-Internship, supervised curricular experience that totals a minimum of 100 clock hours and 40 direct client contact hours
  2. A distinctly defined, post-Practicum, supervised curricular experience that totals a minimum of 600 clock hours and 240 direct client contact hours

State Regulation: Massachusetts – Statutes and Rules

State Board: Massachusetts – Board of Registration of Allied Mental Health and Human Professions

Federal Disclosure: Meets states requirements

Additional Important Information: An initial license is not required to begin accruing postgraduate supervision hours.

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Michigan

What is Issued: License

Name of What’s Issued:

  1. Limited License – while obtaining post-grad field experience
  2. Licensed Professional Counselor – once post-grad field experience has been completed

Programmatic Accreditation Requirements: Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP), the Council on Rehabilitation Evaluation (CORE), or equivalent

Examinations: National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification (NCE)

Curriculum Requirements: 48 semester hours or 72 quarter hours in counseling related topics in the following areas:

  1. Career Development
  2. Consulting
  3. Counseling Techniques
  4. Counseling Theories
  5. Counseling philosophy
  6. Group Techniques
  7. Professional Ethics
  8. Research Methodology
  9. Multicultural Counseling
  10. Testing Procedures and Assessment
  11. Practicum

Field Experience Requirements: The program shall include an internship that consists of not less than 600 hours of supervised clinical experience in counseling.

State Regulation: Michigan – Administrative Code

State Board: Michigan – Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs

Federal Disclosure: Meets states requirements

Additional Important Information: Michigan requires training for identifying victims of human trafficking

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Minnesota

What is Issued: License

Name of What’s Issued: Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)

Programmatic Accreditation Requirements: Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP) or regionally accredited

Examinations: National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification (NCE) or an equivalent national exam as determined by the board

Curriculum Requirements: 48 semester hours or 72 quarter hours including the following content areas:

  1. The Helping Relationship, including Counseling Theory and Practice
  2. Human Growth and Development
  3. Lifestyle and Career Development
  4. Group Dynamics, Processes, Counseling, and Consulting
  5. Assessment and Appraisal
  6. Social and Cultural Foundations, including multicultural issues
  7. Principles of Etiology, Treatment Planning, and Prevention of Mental and Emotional Disorders and Dysfunctional Behavior
  8. Family Counseling and Therapy
  9. Research and Evaluation
  10. Professional Counseling Orientation and Ethics

Field Experience Requirements: Field experience of not fewer than 700 hours that is counseling in nature.

State Regulation: Minnesota – Statutes and Rules

State Board: Minnesota – Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy

Federal Disclosure: Meets states requirements

Additional Important Information: An initial license is not required to begin accruing postgraduate supervision hours. Students can wait to apply for licensure until the 2000 hours have been completed with board-approved supervisor OR apply for the LPC license immediately, create a board-approved supervision plan, and will have a supervised practice designation.

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Mississippi

What is Issued: License

Name of What’s Issued:

  1. Provisional-Licensed Professional Counselor (P-LPC) – while obtaining post-grad field experience
  2. Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) – once post-grad field experience has been completed

Programmatic Accreditation Requirements: Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP) or equivalent

Examinations: National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification (NCE)

Curriculum Requirements: At least 60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours in the following areas:

  1. Human Growth and Development
  2. Social and Cultural Foundations
  3. Counseling and Psychotherapy Skills
  4. Group Counseling
  5. Lifestyle and Career Development
  6. Testing and Appraisal
  7. Research and Evaluation
  8. Professional Orientation to Counseling or Ethics
  9. Theories of Counseling Psychotherapy and Personality
  10. Marriage and/or Family Therapy
  11. Abnormal Psychology and Psychopathology
  12. Internship

Field Experience Requirements: Practicum hours not specified.

State Regulation: Mississippi Rules and Regulations

State Board: Mississippi – Board of Examiners for Licensed Professional Counselors

Federal Disclosure: Meets states requirements

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Missouri

What is Issued: License

Name of What’s Issued:

  1. Provisional License – while obtaining post-grad experience
  2. Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) – once post-grad field experience has been completed

Programmatic Accreditation Requirements: Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP) or equivalent

Examinations: National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification (NCE)

Curriculum Requirements: At least 48 semester hours or 72 quarter hours in the following areas:

  1. Counseling Theory
  2. Human Growth and Development
  3. Social and Cultural Diversity
  4. Helping Relationship
  5. Group Counseling
  6. Career Development
  7. Appraisal
  8. Research Methods
  9. Professional Orientation
  10. Diagnosis

Field Experience Requirements: At least 6 semester hours of graduate level supervised practicum, internship, or field experience.

State Regulation: Missouri – Statutes

State Board: Missouri – Committee for Professional Counselors

Federal Disclosure: Meets states requirements

Additional Important Information: Two hours of suicide prevention training is required for initial and renewal of licensure.

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Montana

What is Issued: License

Name of What’s Issued:

  1. Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor Candidate (LCPCC) – while obtaining post-grad field experience2 Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) – once post-grad field experience has been completed

Programmatic Accreditation Requirements: Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP) or equivalent

Examinations: Exam administered by National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) or the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE)

Curriculum Requirements: 60 semester hours in the following areas:

  1. Counseling Theory
  2. Counseling Techniques
  3. Human Growth and Development
  4. Social and Cultural Foundations
  5. The Helping Relationship
  6. Groups
  7. Lifestyle and Career Development
  8. Appraisal
  9. Research and Evaluation9. Professional Orientation
  10. Supervised Experience

Field Experience Requirements: 6 semester hours in an advanced counseling practicum.

  1. supervision by licensed program faculty to include: a) a minimum of 30 hours individual face-to-face consultation and review with supervisor; b) a minimum of 45 hours small group supervisory consultation with supervisor and peers in practicum program;
  2. A minimum of 200 clock hours of service to clients which includes: a) a minimum of 80 hours offering face-to-face direct service to individual, family, and group clients.

State Regulation: Montana – Regulations

State Board: Montana – Board of Behavioral Health

Federal Disclosure: Meets states requirements

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Nebraska

What is Issued: License

Name of What’s Issued:

  1. Provisional Mental Health Practitioner License – while obtaining post-grad field experience
  2. Mental Health Practitioner License – once post-grad field experience has been completed

Programmatic Accreditation Requirements: Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP) or equivalent

Examinations: National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification (NCE) or the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE)

Curriculum Requirements: At least three semester hours in each of the following areas:

  1. Theories and Techniques
  2. Professional Ethics
  3. Assessment Techniques
  4. Human Growth and Development
  5. Research and Evaluation

Field Experience Requirements: A minimum of 300 clock hours of direct client contact of which 150 clock hours must be face-to-face in a work setting

State Regulation: Nebraska – Rules and Regulations

State Board: Nebraska – Division of Behavioral Health

Federal Disclosure: Meets states requirements

Additional Important Information: Students will be alerted to the additional direct client hours during the admissions process, and informed and reminded during their program that they are responsible for securing the additional required 20 hours independently.

There are other licensure options available to applicants. Contact the state board for additional information.

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Nevada

What is Issued: License

Name of What’s Issued:

  1. Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor Intern – while obtaining post-grad field experience
  2. Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor – once post-grad field experience has been completed

Programmatic Accreditation Requirements: Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP) or equivalent

Examinations: National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE)

Curriculum Requirements: At least 60 semester hours or 72 quarter hours in the following areas:

  1. At least two courses in human development, including, without limitation, issues of sexuality.
  2. At least one course in individual counseling theories.
  3. At least one course in individual counseling techniques and practice.
  4. At least one course in lifestyle and career development.
  5. At least one course in group dynamics, counseling and consulting
  6. At least one course in ethics and professional studies.
  7. At least three courses in the supervised practice of clinical professional counseling.
  8. At least one course in diagnosis and assessment, including, without limitation, the use of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).
  9. At least one course in social and cultural foundations.
  10. At least one course in research and evaluation.
  11. At least one course in abuse of alcohol or controlled substances.
  12. At least one course in couples counseling.
  13. At least one course in family systems.
  14. At least one course in crisis or trauma.
  15. At least one course in grief or loss.

Field Experience Requirements: The courses in the supervised practice of clinical professional counseling must include clinical experience working with individuals, couples, and families and be equivalent to three courses taken during three semesters or four courses taken during four quarters which provide a minimum of 40 weeks of supervised practice.

State Regulation: Nevada – Rules and Regulations

State Board: Nevada – Board of Examiners for Marriage and Family Therapists & Clinical Professional Counselors

Federal Disclosure: Meets State Requirements

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New Hampshire

What is Issued: License

Name of What’s Issued: Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor

Programmatic Accreditation Requirements: Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP) or state equivalent standards

Examinations: National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE)

Curriculum Requirements: The 60 semester hour degree in mental health counseling shall include coursework consisting of at least 33 semester hours from the following 11 areas:

  1. Human Growth and Development
  2. Abnormal Psychology/Psychopathology
  3. Clinical Counseling Theories
  4. Clinical Counseling Techniques
  5. Social and Cultural Foundations
  6. Group Work
  7. Professional Orientation and Ethics of Mental Health Counseling
  8. Career and Lifestyle Development
  9. Testing and Assessment
  10. Research and Program Evaluation
  11. Addictive Behaviors

Field Experience Requirements: At least 700 hours of supervised practicum and/or internship appropriate to mental health counseling.

State Regulation: New Hampshire – Laws and Rules

State Board: New Hampshire – Board of Mental Health Practice

Federal Disclosure: Meets states requirements

Additional Important Information: An initial license is not required to begin accruing postgraduate supervision hours. The student must submit a supervision plan and have it approved by the board before counting supervision hours toward full licensure.

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New Jersey

What is Issued: License

Name of What’s Issued:

  1. Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC) – while obtaining post-grad field experience
  2. Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) – once post-grad field experience has been completed

Programmatic Accreditation Requirements: Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP) or equivalent

Examinations: National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification (NCE)

Curriculum Requirements: 60 semester hours of which 45 semester hours shall be distributed in at least eight of the following areas:

  1. Counseling Theory and Practice
  2. The Helping Relationship
  3. Human Growth and Development
  4. Lifestyle and Career Development
  5. Group Dynamics
  6. Appraisal of Individuals
  7. Social and Cultural Foundations
  8. Research and Evaluation
  9. The Counseling Profession

Field Experience Requirements: Practicum hours not specified.

State Regulation: New Jersey – Statutes and Regulations

State Board: New Jersey – Professional Counselor Examiners Committee

Federal Disclosure: Meets states requirements

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New Mexico

What is Issued: License

Name of What’s Issued:

  1. Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) – while obtaining post-grad field experience
  2. Licensed Professional Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LPCC) – once post grad field experience has been completed

Programmatic Accreditation Requirements: Regionally accredited

Examinations:

  1. National Counselor Examination (NCE)
  2. The National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE)

Curriculum Requirements: Master’s degree in counseling or a counseling related field and a total of no less than 48 graduate semester hours or 72 quarter graduate hours. 11 core curriculum graduate areas that must include:

  1. Human Growth and Development
  2. Social and Cultural Foundations
  3. Helping Relationships
  4. Group Work
  5. Career and Lifestyle Development
  6. Appraisal
  7. Research Methods
  8. Professional Orientation
  9. Specialized Clinical Studies
  10. Supervised Practicum

Field Experience Requirements: A minimum of 9 semester or 12 quarter hours of graduate coursework in practicum and internship.

State Regulation: New Mexico – Rules and Laws

State Board: New Mexico Counseling and Therapy Practice Board

Federal Disclosure: Meets states requirements

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New York

What is Issued: License

Name of What’s Issued:

  1. Limited Permit in Mental Health Counseling – while obtaining post-grad field experience
  2. Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) – once post-grad field experience has been completed

Programmatic Accreditation Requirements: Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP) or equivalent

Examinations: National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Examination (NCMHCE)

Curriculum Requirements: At least 60 semester hours, or the equivalent, of study that contains curricular content that includes but is not limited to each of the following content areas:

  1. Human Growth and Development
  2. Social and Cultural Foundations of Counseling
  3. Counseling Theory and Practice
  4. Psychopathology
  5. Group Dynamics
  6. Lifestyle and Career Development
  7. Assessment and Appraisal of Individuals, Couples, Families and Groups
  8. Research and Program Evaluation
  9. Professional Orientation and Ethics
  10. Foundations of Mental Health Counseling and Consultation
  11. Clinical Instruction

Field Experience Requirements: Must include a supervised internship or supervised practicum in mental health counseling of at least one-year, defined as at least 600 clock hours.

State Regulation: New York State Office of the Professions – Mental Health Counselor

State Board: New York State Office of the Professions – Mental Health Counselor

Federal Disclosure: Meets states requirements

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North Carolina

What is Issued: License

Name of What’s Issued:

  1. Licensed Professional Counselor Associate (LPCA) – while obtaining post-grad field experience
  2. Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) – once post-grad field experience has been completed

Programmatic Accreditation Requirements: Regional accreditation

Examinations: the National Counselor Examination (NCE) or the National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Examination (NCMHCE)

Curriculum Requirements: 3 semester hours in each category:

  1. Helping Relationships
  2. Professional Orientation
  3. Human Growth and Development Theories
  4. Social and Cultural Foundations
  5. Group Counseling Theories and Processes
  6. Career Counseling and Lifestyle Development
  7. Assessment in Counseling
  8. Research and Program Evaluation

Field Experience Requirements:

  1. one or more courses in practicum totaling at least three semester hours or five quarter hours;
  2. one or more courses in internship totaling at least three semester hours or five quarter hours; a minimum of 300 hours of graduate counseling experience at a rate of not less than one hour of clinical supervision per 40 hours of graduate counseling experience

State Regulation: North Carolina – Administrative Code

State Board: North Carolina – Board of Licensed Professional Counselors

Federal Disclosure: Meets states requirements

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North Dakota

What is Issued: License

Name of What’s Issued:

  1. Licensed Associate Professional Counselor – while obtaining post-grad field experience
  2. Licensed Professional Counselor – once post-grad field experience has been completed

Programmatic Accreditation Requirements: Regional accreditation

Examinations: National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification (NCE)

Curriculum Requirements: 60 semester credits or 90 quarter credits relating to counseling, including coursework in:

  1. Counseling Theories
  2. Counseling Methods
  3. Group Counseling
  4. Individual Appraisal, Assessment, or Testing
  5. Counseling-related Research Methods
  6. Human Growth and Development
  7. Multicultural Counseling
  8. Career and Lifestyle Development
  9. Professional Orientation and Ethics

Field Experience Requirements: Practicum: 100 hours
Internship: 600 hours

State Regulation: North Dakota – Administrative Code

State Board: North Dakota – Board of Counselor Examiners

Federal Disclosure: Meets states requirements

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Ohio

What is Issued: License

Name of What’s Issued:

  1. Licensed Professional Counselor – while obtaining post-grad field experience
  2. Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor – once post-grad field experience has been completed

Programmatic Accreditation Requirements: Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP) or equivalent

Examinations: National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification (NCE)

Curriculum Requirements: At least 60 semester credits in the following areas:

  1. Human Growth and Development
  2. Counseling Theory
  3. Counseling Techniques
  4. Group Dynamics, Processing, and Counseling
  5. Appraisal of Individuals
  6. Research and Evaluation
  7. Professional, Legal, and Ethical Responsibilities
  8. Social and Cultural Foundations
  9. Lifestyle and Career Development

Field Experience Requirements: Practicum: 100 hours (40 direct)
Internship: 600 hours (240 direct)

State Regulation: Ohio – Laws and Rules

State Board: Ohio – Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist Board

Federal Disclosure: Meets states requirements

Additional Important Information: Some field experience sites may require students to register as a “Counselor Trainee” while obtaining practicum and internship hours.

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Oklahoma

What is Issued: License

Name of What’s Issued:

  1. Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate (LPCC) – while obtaining post-grad field experience
  2. Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) – once post-grad field experience has been completed

Programmatic Accreditation Requirements: Regional accreditation

Examinations: National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification (NCE)

Curriculum Requirements: 60 semester credit hours or 90 quarter credit hours in the following knowledge areas:

  1. Human Growth and Development
  2. Abnormal Human Behavior
  3. Appraisal/Assessment Techniques
  4. Counseling Theories/Methods
  5. Professional Orientation/Ethics
  6. Research
  7. Five elective courses

Field Experience Requirements: At least one course of an organized practicum with at least 300 clock hours in counseling

State Regulation: Oklahoma – Administrative Rules

State Board: Oklahoma – State Board of Behavioral Health

Federal Disclosure: Meets states requirements

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Oregon

What is Issued: License

Name of What’s Issued:

  1. Registered Intern – while obtaining post-grad field experience
  2. Licensed Professional Counselor – once post-grad field experience has been completed

Programmatic Accreditation Requirements: Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP) or equivalent

Examinations: National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification (NCE) or the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE)

Curriculum Requirements: 60 semester credit hours or 90 quarter credit hours in each of the following coursework

  1. Counseling Theory
  2. Human Growth and Development
  3. Social and Cultural Foundations
  4. The Helping Relationship
  5. Group Dynamics Processing and Counseling
  6. Lifestyle and Career Development
  7. Diagnosis of mental disorders
  8. Research and Evaluation
  9. Professional Orientation (Ethics)
  10. At least 16 semester hours or 24 quarter hours of supporting coursework for specialty areas

Field Experience Requirements: At least 700 total clock hours, including 280 direct client contact hours.

State Regulation: Oregon – Statutes & Administrative Rules

State Board: Oregon – Board of Licensed Professional Counselors & Therapists

Federal Disclosure: Meets states requirements

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Pennsylvania

What is Issued: License

Name of What’s Issued: Licensed Professional Counselor

Programmatic Accreditation Requirements: Regional accreditation

Examinations: The National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification (NCE)

Curriculum Requirements: At least 2 semester hours in each of the following areas:

  1. Human growth and development
  2. Social and cultural foundations
  3. Helping relationships
  4. Group work
  5. Career and lifestyle development
  6. Appraisal
  7. Research and program evaluation
  8. Professional orientation

Field Experience Requirements: 100 clock hours of supervised practicum experience and 600 clock hours of supervised internship experience. The supervised internship experience shall begin after completion of the supervised practicum experience.

State Regulation: Pennsylvania – Regulations

State Board: Pennsylvania – State Board Of Social Workers, Marriage And Family Therapists And Professional Counselors 

Federal Disclosure: Meets states requirements

Additional Important Information: An initial license is not required to begin accruing postgraduate supervision hours.

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Rhode Island

What is Issued: License

Name of What’s Issued: Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC)

Programmatic Accreditation Requirements: Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP) or equivalent

Examinations: National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Examination (NCMHCE)

Curriculum Requirements: 60 semester credit hours, with 30 credit hours in the following areas:

  1. Helping Relationships and Counseling Theory
  2. Human Growth and Development
  3. Social and Cultural Foundations
  4. Groups
  5. Lifestyle and Career Development
  6. Appraisal
  7. Research and Program Evaluation
  8. Professional Orientation

Field Experience Requirements: CACREP expectations for internship and practicum; OR 12 semester credit hours of supervised practicum and a minimum of 1 calendar year of supervised internship consisting of 20 hours per week deemed equivalent by the board.

State Regulation: Rhode Island – Regulations

State Board: Rhode Island – Department of Health – Marriage, Family and Mental Health Therapy

Federal Disclosure: Meets states requirements

Additional Important Information: An initial license is not required to begin accruing postgraduate supervision hours.

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South Carolina

What is Issued: License

Name of What’s Issued:

  1. Licensed Professional Counselor Intern (LPCI) – while obtaining post-grad field experience
  2. Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) – once post grad field experience has been completed

Programmatic Accreditation Requirements: Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP) or equivalent

Examinations: Exam approved by the board

Curriculum Requirements: 60 semester credit hours that include the following areas:

  1. Human Growth and Development
  2. Social and Cultural Foundations
  3. Helping Relationships
  4. Groups
  5. Lifestyle and Career Development
  6. Appraisal
  7. Research and Evaluation
  8. Professional Orientation
  9. Psychopathology
  10. Diagnostics of Psychopathology

Field Experience Requirements: Practicum: supervised 100 hour practicum
Internship: 600 hours under the supervision of a qualified licensed mental health practitioner

State Regulation: South Carolina – Regulations

State Board: South Carolina – Board of Examiners for Licensure of Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, Addiction Counselors and Psycho-Educational Specialists

Federal Disclosure: Meets states requirements

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South Dakota

What is Issued: License

Name of What’s Issued: Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)

Programmatic Accreditation Requirements: Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP) or equivalent

Examinations: The National Counselor Examination (NCE)

Curriculum Requirements:

  1. Counseling Theory
  2. Counseling Techniques
  3. Human Growth and Development
  4. Social and Cultural Foundations
  5. Group
  6. Lifestyle and Career Development
  7. Appraisal of the Individual
  8. Research and Evaluation
  9. Professional, Legal, and Ethical Considerations

Field Experience Requirements:

  1. A practicum consists of no less than 100 hours, of which 40 hours are direct service.
  2. A supervised internship may be no less than 600 hours of which 240 hours must be in direct services.

State Regulation: South Dakota – Rules

State Board: South Dakota Board of Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapy Examiners

Federal Disclosure: Meets states requirements

Additional Important Information: An initial license is not required to begin accruing postgraduate supervision hours. The student must submit a ‘Plan of Supervision’ and have it approved by the board before counting supervision hours toward full licensure.

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Tennessee

What is Issued: License

Name of What’s Issued:

  1. Temporary Licensed Professional Counselor – while obtaining post-grad field experience
  2. Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) – once post-grad field experience has been completed or
  3. Licensed Professional Counselor with Mental Health Service Provider designation (LPC/MHSP)

Programmatic Accreditation Requirements: Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP) or equivalent

Examinations:

  1. The National Counselor Examination (NCE)
  2. Tennessee Jurisprudence Exam

Curriculum Requirements: To become a Licensed Professional Counselor, at least 60 graduate semester hours in the following core areas:

  1. Theories of Human Behavior, Learning and Personality
  2. Abnormal Behavior
  3. Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy
  4. Evaluation and Appraisal Procedures
  5. Group Dynamics, Theories and Techniques
  6. Counseling Techniques
  7. Multicultural Counseling
  8. Ethics
  9. Research

To become a Licensed Professional Counselor with a Mental Health Services Provider designation, at least 60 graduate semester hours in the above areas as well as the following requirements:

  1. Use of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM)
  2. Treatment and Treatment Planning

Field Experience Requirements: Supervised field experience as either a practicum or internship that includes a minimum of five hundred (500) clock hours of training, at least three hundred (300) of which must be completed in a mental health or community agency setting. This field experience must be supervised by an individual with at least a Master’s degree in counseling, social work, psychology or psychiatry

State Regulation: Tennessee – Statutes and Rules

State Board: Tennessee – Board for Licensed Professional Counselors, Licensed Marital and Family Therapists and Licensed Clinical Pastoral Therapists

Federal Disclosure: Meets states requirements

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Texas

What is Issued: License

Name of What’s Issued:

  1. Licensed Professional Counselor Intern (LPC Intern) – while obtaining post-grad field experience
  2. Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) – once post-grad field experience has been completed

Programmatic Accreditation Requirements: Regionally Accredited

Examinations:

  1. National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification (NCE) or the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE)
  2. Jurisprudence Exam is required to upgrade Intern License to LPC

Curriculum Requirements: A graduate degree in counseling or a counseling-related field with at least 60 semester hours of coursework in the following areas:

  1. Normal Human Growth and Development
  2. Abnormal Human Behavior
  3. Appraisal or Assessment Techniques
  4. Counseling Theories
  5. Counseling Methods or Techniques
  6. Research
  7. Lifestyle and Career Development
  8. Social, Cultural, and Family Issues
  9. Professional Orientation
  10. Addictions Counseling
  11. Counselor Ethics
  12. Couples, Marriage, or Family Counseling
  13. Psychopathology

Field Experience Requirements: Supervised practicum experience primarily counseling in nature which includes:

  1. At least 300 clock-hours, of which at least 100 hours must be direct client counseling.
  2. Academic credit or other acknowledgment of the practicum/internship must appear on the applicant’s official graduate transcript.

State Regulation: Texas – Rules and Regulations

State Board: Texas – State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors

Federal Disclosure: Meets states requirements

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Utah

What is Issued: License

Name of What’s Issued:

  1. Associate Clinical Mental Health Counselor (ACMHC) – while obtaining post-grad field experience
  2. Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) – once post-grad field experience has been completed

Programmatic Accreditation Requirements: Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP) or equivalent

Examinations: National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Examination (NCMHCE)

Curriculum Requirements: If program is not accredited by CACREP, at least 60 semester or 90 credit hours with the following graduate level coursework:

  1. Professional Counseling Orientation and Ethical Practice
  2. Social and Cultural Diversity
  3. Group Counseling and Group Work
  4. Human Growth and Development
  5. Career Development
  6. Counseling and Helping Relationships
  7. Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders
  8. Assessment and Testing
  9. Mental Status Examination
  10. Research and Program Evaluation

Field Experience Requirements: A minimum of four semester or six quarter hours of internship or practicum as defined in Subsection R156-60c-102(1) or (2) that includes combined completion of at least 1,000 hours of supervised clinical training of which at least 400 hours shall be in providing clinical mental health counseling directly to clients.

State Regulation: Utah Clinical Mental Health Counselor Licensing Act Rule

State Board: Utah – Dept. of Commerce – Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing

Federal Disclosure: Meets states requirements

Additional Important Information: The state requires a two-hour pre-licensure suicide prevention course

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Vermont

What is Issued: License

Name of What’s Issued: Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC)

Programmatic Accreditation Requirements: Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP) or equivalent

Examinations: Applicants must successfully complete both the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE) and the National Counselor Examination (NCE)

Curriculum Requirements: 60 credits of graduate level course work in the following areas:

  1. Diagnosis, Assessment, and Treatment

The degree must contain course work from no fewer than five of the seven areas 1 through 7 below:

  1. Human Growth and Development
  2. Theories
  3. Counseling Skills
  4. Groups
  5. Measurement
  6. Professional Orientation and Ethics
  7. Treatment Modalities

The following courses may be supplemented after the degree:

  1. Multicultural Studies. Research and Evaluation
  2. Career Development and Lifestyle Appraisal

At least 2 of the following 5 courses are required and may be supplemented after the degree:

  1. Marriage, Couples, and Family Counseling
  2. Human Sexuality for Counselors
  3. Crisis Intervention
  4. Addictive Disorders
  5. Psychopharmacology

Field Experience Requirements: Complete 700 hours of supervised internship, with no fewer than 600 hours occurring within the “acceptable” degree.

State Regulation: Vermont – Rules

State Board: Vermont – Board of Allied Mental Health

Federal Disclosure: Meets states requirements

Additional Important Information: Applicants for licensure as Clinical Mental Health Counselors are advised to apply as soon as they have met their graduation requirements so that they may qualify for the licensing examination at the earliest time. Applicants should not wait to complete supervised practice requirements before applying for licensure. No supervised practice may occur within the State of Vermont until the prospective licensee has been entered on the roster of non licensed and non certified psychotherapists.

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Virginia

What is Issued: License

Name of What’s Issued:

  1. Initial Supervised Residency – while obtaining post-grad field experience
  2. Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) – once post-grad field experience has been completed

Programmatic Accreditation Requirements: Regional Accreditation

Examinations: National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Examination (NCMHCE)

Curriculum Requirements: 60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours of graduate study in the following core coursework:

  1. Professional Counseling Identity, Function and Ethics
  2. Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy
  3. Counseling and Psychotherapy Techniques
  4. Human Growth and Development
  5. Group Counseling and Psychotherapy, Theories and Techniques
  6. Career Counseling and Development Theories and Techniques
  7. Appraisal, Evaluation and Diagnostic Procedures
  8. Abnormal Behavior and Psychopathology
  9. Multicultural Counseling, Theories and Techniques
  10. Research
  11. Diagnosis and Treatment of Addictive Disorders
  12. Marriage and Family Systems Theory

Field Experience Requirements: Supervised internship of at least 600 hours to include 240 hours of face-to-face client contact. Only internship hours earned after completion of 30 graduate semester hours may be counted towards residency hours.

State Regulation: Virginia – Laws and Regulations

State Board: Virginia – Board of Counseling

Federal Disclosure: Meets states requirements

Additional Important Information: As of December 23rd, 2019, applicants seeking licensure through examination must provide a current report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB).

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Washington

What is Issued: License

Name of What’s Issued:

  1. Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associate (LMHCA) – while obtaining post-grad field experience
  2. Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) – once post-grad field experience has been completed

Programmatic Accreditation Requirements: An accreditation body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or United States Department of Education

Examinations: The National Certification Examination (NCE) or the National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Examination (NCMHCE)

Curriculum Requirements: This core of study must include seven of the content areas listed in 1 through 17. Five of the content areas must be from 1 through 8 of this subsection:

  1. Assessment/Diagnosis.
  2. Ethics/Law.
  3. Counseling Individuals.
  4. Counseling Groups.
  5. Counseling Couples and Families.
  6. Developmental Psychology (may be child, adolescent, adult or life span).
  7. Psychopathology/Abnormal Psychology.
  8. Research and Evaluation.
  9. Career Development Counseling.
  10. Multicultural Concerns.
  11. Substance/Chemical Abuse.
  12. Physiological Psychology.
  13. Organizational Psychology.
  14. Mental Health Consultation.
  15. Developmentally Disabled Persons.
  16. Abusive Relationships.
  17. Chronically Mentally Ill.

Field Experience Requirements: Either a counseling practicum, or a counseling internship, or both, must be included in the core of study. Exclusive use of an internship or practicum used for qualification must have incorporated supervised direct client contact.

State Regulation: Washington – Administrative Code

State Board: Washington – Department of Health

Federal Disclosure: Meets states requirements

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West Virginia

What is Issued: License

Name of What’s Issued:

  1. Provisionally Licensed Counselor
  2. Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)

Programmatic Accreditation Requirements: Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP) or equivalent

Examinations: The National Counselor Examination (NCE) or the
National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE)

Curriculum Requirements: 60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours of graduate course work in the following areas:

  1. Counseling Theories
  2. Counseling Techniques
  3. Human Growth and Development
  4. Social and Cultural Foundation
  5. Individual Appraisal
  6. Professional Responsibilities
  7. Principles of Etiology
  8. Addictions Counseling
  9. Group Dynamics, Processes, Counseling and Consulting
  10. Lifestyle and Career Development
  11. Marriage, couples, and/or family
  12. Research and Evaluation

Applicants must also have sufficient semester credit hours in any of the following areas:

  1. Human Sexuality
  2. Psychopharmacology
  3. Crisis Intervention
  4. Biological Basis of Behavior
  5. Counseling Special Populations
  6. Rehabilitation Counseling
  7. Counseling Interventions

Field Experience Requirements: Practicum hours not specified.

State Regulation: West Virginia – Legislative Rule

State Board: West Virginia – Board of Examiners in Counseling

Federal Disclosure: Meets states requirements

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Wisconsin

What is Issued: License

Name of What’s Issued:

  1. Professional Counselor Training License – while obtaining post-grad field experience
  2. Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) – once post-grad field experience has been completed

Programmatic Accreditation Requirements: Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP) or equivalent

Examinations: The National Certification Examination (NCE) or the National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Examination (NCMHCE)

Curriculum Requirements: 60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours of academic credit in the following areas:

  1. Counseling Theory
  2. Human Growth and Development
  3. Social and Cultural Foundations
  4. Helping Relationship
  5. Group Dynamics Processing and Counseling
  6. Lifestyle and Career Development
  7. Assessment and Testing
  8. Research and Evaluation
  9. Professional Counseling OrientationOne of the two following areas:
  10. Foundations of Clinical Mental Health Counseling
  11. Foundations of Clinical Rehabilitation CounselingOne of the two following areas:
  12. Clinical Mental Health Counseling Diagnosis and Treatment Planning
  13. Rehabilitation Counseling Diagnosis and Treatment Planning

One of the following four areas:

  1. Crisis and Trauma Counseling
  2. Abnormal Behavior and Psychopathology
  3. Addictions Counseling
  4. Family, Partnership, and Couples Counseling

Field Experience Requirements: Practicum: 100 hours total with 40 hours of direct client contact
Internship: 600 hours total with 240 hours of direct client contact

State Regulation: Wisconsin – Administrative Code

State Board: Wisconsin – Department of Safety and Professional Services

Federal Disclosure: Meets states requirements

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Wyoming

What is Issued: License

Name of What’s Issued:

  1. Provisional Professional Counselor (PPC)
  2. Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)

Programmatic Accreditation Requirements: Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP) or equivalent

Examinations: The National Certification Examination (NCE) or the National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Examination (NCMHCE)

Curriculum Requirements: 60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours in the following areas:

  1. Human Growth and Development
  2. Social and Cultural Diversity
  3. Helping Relationship
  4. Group Work
  5. Career Development
  6. Assessment
  7. Research and Program Evaluation
  8. Professional Counseling Orientation

Field Experience Requirements: Students must complete a supervised practicum that totals a minimum of 100 clock hours over a minimum 10-week academic term. The program must require a completion of a supervised internship of 600 clock hours, begun after successful completion of the practicum. The internship must include at least 240 clock hours of direct service, including experience leading groups; weekly interaction that averages one hour per week of individual and/or triadic supervision throughout the internship, and an average of 1 1/2 hours per week of group supervision provided on a regular schedule throughout the internship and performed by a program faculty member.

State Regulation: Wyoming – Rules and Regulations

State Board: Wyoming – Mental Health Professions Licensing Board

Federal Disclosure: Meets states requirements

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